Suppose the Australian cash rate is expected to be 8.15% pa and the US federal funds rate is expected to be 3.00% pa over the next 2 years, both given as nominal effective annual rates. The current exchange rate is at parity, so 1 USD = 1 AUD.

Investors expect the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to keep the policy rate steady at their next meeting.

Then unexpectedly, the RBA announce that they will increase the policy rate by 25 basis points due to fears that the economy is growing too fast and that inflation will be above their target rate of 2 to 3 per cent.

What do you expect to happen to Australia's exchange rate in the short term? The Australian dollar is likely to:

(a) Appreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD (AUD per USD) will increase.

(b) Depreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD (AUD per USD) will decrease.

(c) Appreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD (AUD per USD) will decrease.

(d) Depreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD (AUD per USD) will increase.

(e) Appreciate against the USD, so the 'American terms' quote of the AUD (USD per AUD) will decrease.

In the 1997 Asian financial crisis many countries' exchange rates depreciated rapidly against the US dollar (USD). The Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Korean and Filipino currencies were severely affected. The below graph shows these Asian countries' currencies in USD per one unit of their currency, indexed to 100 in June 1997.

Of the statements below, which is NOT correct? The Asian countries':

(a) Exports denominated in domestic currency became cheaper to foreigners.

(b) Imports denominated in domestic currency became more expensive.

(c) Citizens would have to pay more in their own currency when holidaying in the US.

(d) USD interest payments on USD fixed-interest bonds became more expensive in their own currency.

(e) Domestic currency interest payments on fixed-interest bonds denominated in domestic currency became cheaper in their own currency.

Investors expect Australia's central bank, the RBA, to reduce the policy rate at their next meeting due to fears that the economy is slowing. Then unexpectedly, the policy rate is actually kept unchanged.

What do you expect to happen to Australia's exchange rate?

(a) The Australian dollar will appreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD exchange rate (AUD/USD) will increase.

(b) The Australian dollar will depreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD exchange rate (AUD/USD) will decrease.

(c) The Australian dollar will appreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD exchange rate (AUD/USD) will decrease.

(d) The Australian dollar will depreciate against the USD, so the 'European terms' quote of the AUD exchange rate (AUD/USD) will increase.

(e) The Australian dollar will appreciate against the USD, so the 'American terms' quote of the AUD exchange rate (USD/AUD) will decrease.

A Chinese man wishes to convert AUD 1 million into Chinese Renminbi (RMB, also called the Yuan (CNY)). The exchange rate is 6.35 RMB per USD, and 0.72 USD per AUD. How much is the AUD 1 million worth in RMB?

If the Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep its interbank overnight cash rate at 2% pa while the US Federal Reserve is expected to keep its federal funds rate at 0% pa over the next year, is the AUD is expected to , , or remain against the USD over the next year?

The Australian cash rate is expected to be 2% pa over the next one year, while the Japanese cash rate is expected to be 0% pa, both given as nominal effective annual rates. The current exchange rate is 100 JPY per AUD.

Below is a graph of the USD against the JPY and EUR from 1980 to 2015, compiled by the RBA. Select the correct statement about what occurred between 1980 and 2015. Note that in 1980 the euro was around 1.3 USD per EUR and the Yen was around 250 JPY per USD.

(a) The JPY and EUR both appreciated against the USD.

(b) The JPY and EUR both depreciated against the USD.

(c) The JPY appreciated against the USD while the EUR depreciated against the USD.

(d) The JPY depreciated against the USD while the EUR appreciated against the USD.

The Australian cash rate is expected to be 2% pa over the next one year, while the US cash rate is expected to be 0% pa, both given as nominal effective annual rates. The current exchange rate is 0.73 USD per AUD.

You suspect that there’s an arbitrage opportunity. Which one of the following statements about the potential arbitrage opportunity is NOT correct?

(a) Right now, borrow USD in America, convert it into EUR at the spot, lend it in Germany and lock in to buy USD and sell EUR forward one year. One year later, withdraw the EUR, convert it into USD and pay back the USD loan.

(b) American debt may be under-priced, buy it.

(c) German debt may be over-priced, sell it.

(d) The spot EUR may be over-priced compared to the USD, sell the EUR now.

(e) The forward EUR may be under-priced compared to the USD, lock in to buy the EUR in one year.

It’s often thought that the ideal currency or exchange rate regime would:

1. Be fixed against the USD;

2. Be convertible to and from USD for traders and investors so there are open goods, services and capital markets, and;

3. Allow independent monetary policy set by the country’s central bank, independent of the US central bank. So the country can set its own interest rate independent of the US Federal Reserve’s USD interest rate.

However, not all of these characteristics can be achieved. One must be sacrificed. This is the 'impossible trinity'.

Which of the following exchange rate regimes sacrifices convertibility?

According to the impossible trinity, a currency can only have two of these three desirable traits: be fixed against the USD; convertible to and from USD for traders and investors so there are open goods, services and capital markets; and allow independent monetary policy set by the country’s central bank, independent of the US central bank.

Which of the following exchange rate regimes sacrifices fixing the exchange rate to the USD? In other words, which regime uses a floating exchange rate?

A Brazilian lady wishes to convert 1 million Brazilian Real (BRL) into Chinese Renminbi (RMB, also called the Yuan or CNY). The exchange rate is 3.42 BRL per USD and 6.27 RMB per USD. How much is the BRL 1 million worth in RMB?

A British man wants to calculate how many British pounds (GBP) he needs to buy a 1 million euro (EUR) apartment in Germany. The exchange rate is 1.42 USD per GBP and 1.23 USD per EUR. What is the EUR 1 million equivalent to in GBP?

Examine the graph of the AUD versus the USD, EUR and JPY. Note that RHS means right hand side and LHS left hand side which indicates which axis each line corresponds to. Assume inflation rates in each country were equal over the time period 1984 to 2018.

Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

(a) The AUD was strongest against the JPY in 1984. This would have been a good time for Australians to holiday in Japan.

(b) Between 2001 and 2007 the AUD appreciated against the USD which would have been bad news for Australian exporters.

(c) In 1985 the AUD depreciated against the USD, JPY and EUR.

(d) In 2011 and 2012, Australian products would have appeared cheap in USD for Americans compared to the past.

Suppose the market expects the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to decrease their short term interest rate by 15 basis points at their next meeting. The current short term interest rate is -0.1% pa and the exchange rate is 100 JPY per USD.

Then unexpectedly, the BoJ announce that they will leave the short term interest rate unchanged.

What do you expect to happen to Japan’s exchange rate on the day when the surprise announcement is made? The Japanese Yen (JPY) is likely to suddenly:

The Chinese central bank has the largest amount of foreign currency reserves.

What could the large amounts of foreign exchange reserves held by the Chinese government be used for in a currency crisis? China's currency is called the Renminbi (RMB) or Yuan (CNY). In a Chinese currency crisis the Chinese government is likely to use its FX reserves to:

The yield curve in the United States of America and Australia is flat. Currently, the:

USD federal funds rate is 1% pa;

AUD cash rate is 1.5% pa;

Spot AUD exchange rate is 1 USD per AUD;

One year forward AUD exchange rate is 0.97 USD per AUD.

You suspect that there’s an arbitrage opportunity.

Which one of the following statements about the potential arbitrage opportunity is NOT correct?

(a) Right now, borrow USD in America, convert it into AUD at the spot, lend it in Australia, lock in to buy USD and sell AUD forward one year. One year later, withdraw the AUD, convert it into USD and pay back the USD loan.

(b) American debt may be over-priced, sell it.

(c) Australian debt may be under-priced, buy it.

(d) The spot AUD may be under-priced compared to the USD, buy the AUD now.

(e) The forward AUD may be under-priced compared to the USD, lock in to buy the AUD in one year.